N.S. Lyons | It's Not Hypocrisy, You're Just Powerless (excerpt)

🚩 [I saw] that slick video you posted on how just pointing out “imagine if someone on Team B did this!” is all it takes to blow the lid off this glaring hypocrisy, thus totally destroying Team A with facts and logic. I’ve noticed you posting a lot of things like this, which is nice, since they are very witty and produce a pleasant buzz of smug superiority, even though this feeling never lasts very long. However, I suddenly realized that you may not be in on the joke, so to speak, so I figured I’d write this short PSA to help explain what “hypocrisy” in politics actually is, just in case you didn’t know and had been fooled into seriously trying to benefit Team B with your comparative memes.

🚩 You see, it’s possible you are under the misapprehension that you are not supposed to notice what you described as the “double-standard” in acceptable behavior between Team A and Team B. And that you think if you point out this double-standard, you are foiling the other team’s plot and holding them accountable. This might be because, in your mind, you are still in high school debate club, where if you finger your opponent for having violated the evenly-applied rules a neutral arbiter of acceptable behavior will recognize this unfairness and penalize them with demerits.

🚩 Except in reality you are not holding Team A accountable, and in fact are notably never able to hold them accountable for anything at all. Even though Team A gets to hold you accountable for everything and anything whenever they want. This is because unfortunately there is no neutral arbiter listening to your whining. In fact, currently the only arbiter is Team A, because Team A has consolidated all the power to decide the rules, and to enforce or not enforce those rules as they see fit.

🚩 In fact, there is no “Team A” or “Team B,” only Class A and Class B. And Class A really wants everyone, especially Class B, to understand this, because they think Class B seriously needs to get the message and accept its place in the order of things. Class B is on the bottom, where it belongs. Class A is on top, and a more lenient standard is a privilege reserved for them, by virtue of their natural, moral, educational, economic, aesthetic superiority and consequent rightful dominance. If Class B does not enjoy this discipline, they should strive to clean up their dirty, stupid, wicked ways and someday become part of Class A. [...]

In his opinion, strength and power are the "iron" laws of the world. He also questioned Denmark's right to control Greenland. CNN quoted the official as saying, "On what basis is Greenland a Danish colony?" Miller believes Greenland should become part of the United States, which would help Washington ensure Arctic security by protecting American interests. But Greenland has a population of only 30,000, journalists asked Miller. He responded: " That's precisely why military action would not be necessary to seize the island. Let's remember that the post published yesterday on social media featuring a map of Greenland in the colors of the American flag and the caption "Coming soon" belongs to Miller's wife. Following this, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on President Trump not to threaten to annex Greenland to the United States. (Google / Grammarly)

■ Trump’s top aide doubles down on Greenland claim (RT)

The EU will continue to "monitor the situation" and demonstrate double standards, the Russian President's Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries stressed. | Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian President's Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), expressed the opinion that the United States has already resolved the Greenland issue and, given the European Union's inaction, could turn its attention to Canada.

He later commented on a post by an X user who included a world map supposedly divided into three parts between US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. "This is an era of redrawing maps of influence, and the EU is 'closely monitoring' the situation," Dmitriev responded to the user.

■ Syv regeringschefer kommer med fælles udtalelse om Grønland (Jyllandsposten)
■ På Rigsarkivet ligger et banebrydende dokument, som viser, at Donald Trump tager fejl om Grønland (Jyllandsposten)
■ Macron, Starmer, Meloni, and Tusk issue a joint statement on Greenland (governo.it)

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty in New York federal court on narco-terrorism allegations, Reuters reported on Monday. | Maduro rebuked four criminal counts, including narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices, the report said. [...] CNN has reported that during the court session, Maduro said he remains Venezuela's legitimate leader. Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, said at court that she is completely innocent of the charges brought against her by the United States, and requested a consular visit for her and her spouse, the report added.

■ Russia Calls on US to Release Maduro Immediately - Russian UN Envoy (Sputnik) | "We are particularly appalled by the unparalleled cynicism with which Washington did not even attempt to conceal the true aims of its criminal operation, namely, the establishment of unbridled control over Venezuela's natural resources and the assertion of its hegemonic ambitions in Latin America," Nebenzia told the UN Security Council meeting on Venezuela. "US crimes in Caracas can not be justified," he added.

■ Primeras declaraciones de Maduro: Soy el presidente de Venezuela y me considero prisionero de guerra (El Universal)
■ "Sigo siendo presidente": Maduro y Flores se declaran no culpables ante la justicia de EE UU (El Nacional)
■ 'Not guilty' plea for deposed Venezuelan leader Maduro: live updates (US Today)